A SOMERSET animal rescue charity is urging people to support a creche it has built to house orphaned animals during the spring months.

Secret World Wildlife Rescue, in East Huntspill, has built a new room for orphaned animals such as badgers, which are often found abandoned in the cold.

The creche was built thanks to support from volunteers and businesses across Somerset, but the charity is now looking for support to equip it with items such as incubators, sterilisers and feeding equipment.

Secret World’s head of facilities Keith Weston said: “Most of our orphan-rearers are staff or volunteers at Secret World and the babies can’t be left alone while their carers are on-site.

“The orphan room will be a space for wildlife babies which need 24-hour care to stay safe and warm.

“We’ve constructed a wooden floating floor that sits above the original floor and walls to enclose the area.

“However, we couldn’t make this project happen without the help of local businesses and volunteers.

“Somerlap and BSW Timber have generously donated all the timber and volunteers have been hard at work getting the new facility ready in time for February, when we could start to see baby badgers needing our help.

“Our next steps are to finish the plastering and the electrics and fit out the room with units including sinks, workstations, swift boxes and a special unit for fawns.”

Secret World has taken in 1,177 wildlife orphans this year, including baby birds whose mothers were killed by cats and young hedgehogs separated from their mothers when their nests were disturbed.

The animals are then cared for by expert staff until they are fit enough for release into the wild.

If you are interested in donating to Secret World’s creche appeal, click here.

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